Word of the Day
Learn a new word every day! The Dictionary.com team of language experts carefully selects each Word of the Day to add some panache to your vocabulary.
a small, rocky island
A skerry is a small, rocky islet that barely peeks above the waves. Nautical charts around Scotland and Scandinavia are dotted with these potential hazards, some visible only at low tide. Keep your eyes peeled for a jagged skerry!
to laugh loudly
Guffaw means "to laugh loudly." It's the kind of belly laugh that has no restraints and echoes through a room. The word can be used both as a noun and verb and was likely coined to echo the very sound of that booming laugh. With such joyful origins, it's no surprise that people often say laughter — especially a good guffaw — is the best medicine!
a secret dungeon with an opening only in the ceiling
An oubliette is a hidden dungeon reached only through a trapdoor — a place where jailers once locked people away to be forgotten. In fact, the word comes from the French word for "forgetting," a grim clue to a prisoner's prospects. Keep the word handy next time you take a castle tour in Europe.
old-fashioned or out-of-date
Fusty describes something that feels old-fashioned or unmistakably out-of-date. The word once referred to wine that had gone bad in its cask, and that unpleasant whiff now lingers figuratively over rules that haven't kept up with the times. When a policy seems frozen in a bygone era, call it fusty and make room for fresh thinking!
awareness of the position of one's body
Proprioception is your body's built-in GPS, letting you know exactly where your limbs are without a glance. It's why you can walk upstairs while chatting on your phone or sip your coffee without staring at the cup. Some call it a sixth sense, and if you can close your eyes and touch your nose, you'll know proprioception is doing its job!
